Alec Parson
Overview
| Alec Parson | |
|---|---|
 Senior Researcher at MICIR | |
| Zone | Imperial City |
| Coordinates | (1440, -39, 705) |
| Level Range | 8-15 |
| Introduced By |
== Level 8 == Interrogator Kang |
| Introduces |
== Level 8 == Investigator Whitworth |
| Enemy Groups | None |
Alec Parson is a Praetorian contact in Imperial City at coordinates (1440, -39, 705) . His level range is 8-15. He is located approximately 73 yards NE of the Industry Avenue marker.
Introductions
Contact Introduced By
Contact Introduces
Information
Senior Researcher at MICIR, the Ministry of Intelligence Criminal Investigaton and Research.
Alec Parson is a senior forensic scientist working for MICIR, the Ministry of Information Criminal Investigation and Research. He has a passion for robotics and all things Clockwork related.
Prior to Introduction
If you're not here about the double-locked algorithm arrays that I requested, then I have no idea who you are or why you're here.
Initial Contact
You must be Character that was mentioned in the email. I'm Alec Parson, and I'm in charge of taking care of our city's security clockwork drones. Did you know that just one optical pattern recognition sensor on a Class G-22029 pre-production model creates more analogous cognitive feedback than ten officers combined?
Can you imagine it? If enough of these were installed around the city, we could let these robots take over all the policing duties! All I need to do is track down a few annoying bugs and then the system will be foolproof!
Of course, that isn't exactly possible right now. I could use your help.
Greeting
- I have very little time to talk right now. There is so much code to compile, I might as well be a Verbrandt string-assistant. Sigh
Too Busy
Missing Too Busy Dialogue
Too Low Level
Missing Too Low Level Dialogue
No More Missions
Missing No More Missions Dialogue
Store
Story Arc
Clock Face
Souvenir
Part One: What's Your Malfunction?
The PPD picked up some haywire Clockwork over in Nova Praetoria and brought them in. I was diagnosing a programming glitch in some of the malfunctioning Clockwork, but one of them overrode its dormant sub-routines, got up off of the examination table, and started accessing one of our databases. I tried to stop it, but it pushed me to the floor and pointed its wrist laser at me!
As if that wasn't enough to encourage me to leave, the other Clockwork started reactivating as well. As you've probably already guessed, I really need your help.
Help Parson with his Clockwork troubles.
I don't know what exactly is going on in there, but I don't think we have any other options. I'm going to need you to shut them down the old fashioned way. Just try not to completely destroy them, or the lab. I want to analyze what happened and get to the bottom of this.
I'm pretty sure the first one that reactivated was some sort of Signal Carrier. If you deactivate the signal carrier then the others should return to normal operating parameters.
Parson hands you a small micro-communicator.
Here, I'll keep in contact with you through this communicator. I have access to MICIR's security feed so if anything strange starts happening, I'll let you know.
Unecessary Solicitation
Have you dealt with the haywire Clockwork in the MICIR labs yet?
Mission Objective(s)
The MICIR labs are oddly quiet, and then you hear the faint whirring of Clockwork micro-motors.
- Investigate Haywire Clockwork in M.I.C.I.R. facility
You've disabled the signal carrier and returned the malfunctioning Clockwork back to normal operating parameters.
- Signal Carrier (Rogue Clockwork, Lieutenant)
- This appears to be the signal carrier that Alec Parson told you about.
Debriefing
Great job, Character, it looks like you managed to deactivate the signal carrier before it could transmit any data. I just hope you left enough of it intact for me to sift through the memory banks and see what it was after.
It appears we'll be working together more. Here, please take my cell number. It's my preferred way of communication.
Part Two: Pieces Parts
Character. We lucked out. Despite trying to self destruct it looks like you managed to keep the Clockwork from completely destroying its memory chips. I sifted around through its memory and compared what pieces I could find with its path through our databases. It looks like it was doing some shopping. Turns out it was very interested in Imperial Storage, a storage depot for Clockwork parts. I think it would be a good idea to get down there and see if whoever was behind that strange signal shows up.
Check out Imperial Storage
Oh, before I forget. I analyzed the files in the memory chips of all the Clockwork that were subjected to that carrier signal. You know, searching for any sort of hacking or file rewrites. Amazingly there were none, with one notable exception.
I found an entirely new data file in the memory of the signal carrier. It was a schematic for a Clockwork design, one I've never seen before.
Maybe I'm not giving this the gravity it deserves. You see, this schematic is far more advanced than anything I have ever seen! It makes amazing use of simple modifications to commonly existing parts. The design achieves staggering results. Frankly, I feel kinda inept that I didn't see it before, it's all so obvious seeing it all laid out like that.
Character, I'm very interested in testing these schematics out, but I have a feeling whoever embedded that file is going to make a grab for the parts first. I want you to stop them and bring the parts to me.
- Parson gives you a list of Clockwork parts and crate numbers.
Unnecessary Solicitation
You need to get over to Imperial Storage and grab those Clockwork parts for me before whoever is behind this gets them.
Mission Objective(s)
From the sound of it, you aren't the first one here.
- Retrieve components from Imperial Storage
- 4 Clockwork parts to retrieve
You got ahold of all the parts before the Clockwork could steal them.
Debriefing
You got the parts! Great!
Wait. You fought off another band of hostile Clockwork? That's unsettling.
Wait, wait, wait... Wait.
When you said the Clockwork were talking you meant talking in their maintenance code, right?
No? What? They knew you by name?
Oh no... if they knew you by name, and that you were coming for those parts... that means they might know who I am and...
Susan...
Part Three: Bait and Switch
Character! It isn't a malfunction in the hard lines... Gah, hold on, let me explain.
I sent the schematics over to a friend of mine at Omnitek to take a look at them while you were getting these parts. We were discussing them over a secure chat channel when she suddenly went offline.
I tried to contact her over the hard lines but I couldn't get through. I figured there was a communication disruption due to Resistance activity down in the tunnels again, but now that I check, Omnitek has gone completely silent. Whoever is behind this knows I transfered those schematics to Susan and now they've gone after her!
Please, Character, get Susan out of there before it's too late!
Check out Omnitek
If anything happens to her it's my fault. I'll alert the PPD while you're en route, hopefully they can lend you a hand.
And Character, please... please get her out of there safely. Susan doesn't know it, but she is more to me than just another colleague.
Unnecessary Solicitation
I still can't get ahold of anyone over at Omnitek.
Mission Objective(s)
Omnitek may have gone silent to the outside world, but inside it is pandemonium.
- Check out Omnitek
- Rescue Susan Beck
- Lead Susan Beck Out
You rescued Susan Beck, but it appears that it was all a ploy to draw you away from Alec Parson and MICIR.
Mission Exit
Susan Beck is safe, but it would seem that whoever is controlling these Clockwork used her as bait to lure you away from Parson.
Enemies
Mission Objective(s)
It looks like Parson didn't get out in time, the place is thick with Clockwork, and you get the feeling that they won't be happy to see you.
- Stop Clockwork in M.I.C.I.R.
- Rescue Alec Parson!
You stopped the rogue Clockwork and rescued Alec Parson!
Enemies
Debriefing
Those Clockwork were... They were talking!
They knew I had discovered something of interest with my research and were trying to destroy it! We must be getting close to the source of what's really going on here, Character, or they wouldn't have reacted so aggressively!
I'm relieved that Susan is alright. But for some reason I don't think whoever is controlling these Clockwork actually wants to hurt us. I wonder what it is they are really after. Who would those Clockwork schematics and parts be so important to?
You have a good eye in catching technical aspects most people would ignore. I'd definitely like to work again with you in the future, friend.
Part Four: Crossed Signals
Now that I've calmed down a little I have something to show you.
The Clockwork data I was analyzing has a very curious anomoly. There is a bit of resurgent code that appears in the files, even in ones that have been completely wiped and had a fresh install. No matter what I do, the lines rewrite themselves back into the files all throughout the databanks.
What are the lines? Oh, they're '< BR >' and then '+t'. I assume 't' means time, though 't' is never defined. Anyway, the line is total gibberish, but I suspect that it has a lot more relevance than we think.
This prompted me to do some more digging and I found something very curious. Remember that strange signal being emitted from that first Clockwork who went rogue, the signal carrier? Well, I haven't been able to identify what sort of signal it was, or how it was transmitting it, but I've been searching the city for more signals like it and I finally found one.
I detected the signal at Megalith Storage. You should drop in and check it out.
Check out Megalith Storage
The signal seems to be fairly weak, so I'm guessing there isn't a lot of activity going on inside Megalith. Whoever it is behind this probably thinks they're safe there. Pay them a visit and see what you can find out. Meanwhile I'll do some additional research here, after I've called in a PPD security contingent that is.
Maybe I can find some background information on this strange line of code while you are working the other angle. I have a feeling we're very close, Kerian. Whoever is behind these rogue Clockwork attacks is soon going to regret it.
Unnecessary Solicitation
Have you checked out Megalith Storage yet?
Mission Objective(s)
- Check out Megalith Storage